Autonomous taxis from Yandex have started operating in the central districts of Moscow. The company is working to expand the area where this technology is used.
The rides are available to company employees, and in the process, we are gradually expanding the zones where the technology is being tested, including in new areas of Moscow.
The head of Yandex Taxi, Alexander Anikin, said that in Moscow in 2026, robotic taxis could be used to transport ordinary passengers. 100 such cars will operate on the roads of the capital. According to the company's plan, cars will be assigned to regular orders randomly. At the same time, the service user will be able to refuse the trip.
Yandex has been testing self-driving taxis in Moscow since 2022 as part of an experimental legal regime, starting with the Yasenevo district, located between the Yasenevo, Novoyasenevskaya, and Bitsevsky Park metro stations, as well as in Skolkovo. Testing is carried out in stages: first with a test driver in the cabin, and then completely autonomously in certain areas.
In addition, Yandex is testing autonomous transport technology in Sirius and Innopolis. In Sirius, the service has been operating since 2019 as everyday transport for residents, and in Innopolis, testing started in 2023. There, 20 cars are involved, serving popular points.